John Higton was born in Virginia in 1775, the son of John Higton, Senior His father was a cotton planter and Loyalist, who served in Cornwallis" Central Division. Higton was privately educated, and was encouraged to paint from an early age by his father, who he succeeded in business.
John Higton, Senior was granted land in Godmanchester, Quebec, but returned to Britain with Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis, and became a cotton merchant, establishing John Higton & Company in London. While Higton considered himself an Englishman, he looked back on his boyhood in North America with fondness. He would recount his earliest memories were as a Hammerman assisting the Blacksmiths of the Division"s Ordnance Corps tend the forge and horses.
The last is to us, who have watched the improving style of Mr.
Higton, a proof that perseverance and study will always be sure to succeed.” They lived in Southwalk, London, and attended Church at Street Mary"s, being acquainted with William Blake. He was raised with the expectation that he would run the family business.
Of their three other sons only William lived to old age, James died in infancy, and Richard in his late twenties. By 1819 Mr. Brewster, Higton"s business partner, had run up personal debts of £74,000.
Brewster filed for bankruptcy, and his creditors turned to Higton to satisfy the debt.
Higton contested joint liability, but was forced to sell his house on Cornhill, and family home and offices in Blackfriars. This was detrimental to Higton"s activity as an artist, and possibly his health. He died on the 23rd of December 1827, being buried in the family plot at Street Mary"s, Newington.
Higton"s patrons included Lord Sedley, for whom he executed a number of paintings, particularly relating to dogs, and George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick.
The Greville"s were acquainted to John Sheldon, Wheble and Nichols who were also Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London. Given Higton"s painting of Dogs at Ampthill Park it is probable that John FitzPatrick, 2nd Earl of Upper Ossory was also a Patron.
